Villages were asked to approve helicopters from the Facebook manager’s yacht

There are at least three villages contacted by a company that organizes ski trips with helicopters in March. The Sami villages have been offered compensation, before a very secret group of tourists would arrive to ski in the Swedish mountains in April. A Norwegian village team has also received a similar offer.

– We understood that it was something special. The organizers were very keen that we would say yes, even though this is before the calving season when the wires are pregnant and all reindeer are very fragile after a tough winter, says a representative of a Sami village.

Skiing with helicopters in untouched lands, so -called helliking, has been criticized Among other things Reindeer owner To destroy nature and disturb the reindeer – and the issue has been raised by the county administrative board in Norrbotten to the government.

According to sources from several Sami villages, the plans for this particular April visit were something out of the ordinary.

The Sami villages, who use helicopters in their reindeer husbandry, were offered by the organizer six hours of helicopter – which corresponds to about SEK 50,000.

On April 1 of the largest existing private luxury yachts to Norwegian Bodö – something that aroused resurrection in Norwegian media.

It is owned by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook company Meta, which is one of The world’s richest people. He is one of the billionaires who tried to approach US President Donald Trump by, among other things Donate money.

Zuckerberg’s luxury yacht is called Launchpad, and he bought it last year for $ 330 million. The boat is Almost 120 meters long. On board there is room for 26 guests and 42 crew members.

“Among the distinctive features is a private owner’s deck outdoors with Jacuzzi, two certified helicopter plates, pool with moving floor and a spacious Beach Club« , Writes the manufacturer on his website.

In Bodö, Zuckerberg’s smaller « supply vessels » also appeared  » Wingmanwhich was included in the purchase of Launchpad. Wingman is also equipped with a helicopter plate and helicopter.

Both vessels went Then north and last week they arrived at a small coastal village, traits, in Northern Norway, where, according to information to DN, a house has been rented to be able to cook, among other things, the guests from the boat.

– There were several helicopters in place and a damn lot of people. A large operation, a source tells DN.

It is from there that the disputed extreme sporting must have taken place. Helicopters must have traveled across the border to Sweden to release guests in the Swedish mountains for skiing on the untouched top snow. According to several sources for DN, the yachts’ own helicopters must have been used. In addition, at least another from a local contractor.

« We see them flying from here every day, » a source told in Norwegian features for DN this weekend.

A trader in the area who was early asked to contribute to the event, tells DN that the plan was for the group to come with a large yacht with their own helicopters and that they hired a Swiss organizer as an intermediary:

– It was Crème de la Crème, no common millionaires. They wanted a three -star chef with up the mountain and they would fly their own helicopters and bring their own guides. It felt so crap. Not meaningful. We refused.

DN has not been able to confirm that Mark Zuckerberg himself was aboard one of the vessels.

A representative of a company that accepted yes said before the visit to DN:

– We have a duty of confidentiality when it comes to the customer. But quite frankly, I don’t know who it is to ski. That there is some prominent person possibly, if they can afford to pay for all that. But I have no idea who or who it is. We sell a flight service. We fly a helicopter – it’s a logistical solution around this event.

After all, there has been reluctance from Sami villages that you have been in contact with. What do you say about it?

– The Sami villages are very important customers for us as well and we have permanent contact with them. It is an ongoing dialogue that is happening continuously all the time.

The company does not want to comment on the fact that the arrangement takes place in connection with the calving period.

One of the villages offered compensation is Unna Tjerusj Sami village. They have – like other respondents that DN has spoken to – declined the compensation. Chairman Helena Omma:

– My attitude is no. There is a word in Sami called Johaddelaš. It means about « useless », things that you devote to unnecessarily. And Heliskiing is the definition of Johaddelašthere is no use in this, she says.

– It is climate -harmful, it disturbs both reindeer as well as wildlife and nature in the area and I am completely against using nature as a playhouse. Nature has an intrinsic value and its own rights. In this case, it is not even the public’s outdoor interest that one takes advantage of – it is only the richest people who have the opportunity to devote themselves to this.

How do you see that the event seems to be implemented even though you and the other Sami villages have said no?

– Then you have asked to – if you are lucky and we say yes – be able to say that you do it in collaboration with the Sami villages. So it’s just worth something if we are positive, otherwise you ignore what we say.

Both Launchpad and Wingman Has crossed the Atlantic to set up in the Norwegian ports, with very large climate emissions as a result. When the lifestyle site Luxury launches in December calculated the emissions of the two vessels During the 10 months when Zuckerberg had so far had them owned, it was concluded that emissions amounted to over three million liters, corresponding to 52,000 full thoughts in a normal -sized car.

Climate Professor Johan Rockström is one of the critics to Heliskiing. The should be bannedhe says.

– My advice is to respect the sensitive environment you have the privilege of visiting and understanding that you have come to the planet’s ”Ground Zero« When it comes to climate change. The temperature increases two to three times faster in the Arctic Circle, which caused severe throws in snow and ice conditions that lock the baits for reindeer, change the vegetation and cause accelerated melting of all glaciers, » Johan Rockström tells DN.

A reindeer herder who wants to be Anonymous tells DN that it feels ironic that a group of people who use private jet, luxury yacht and helicopters are getting around the earth to find the last snow -capped mountains.

– Climate change is clearly noticeable – it is an extremely snowy year and it can lead to having to move the reindeer towards the northwest earlier than usual.

After the adventure in the Swedish mountains, Zuckerberg’s luxury yachts continue against Svalbard as per the harbor’s arrival lists.

On Monday he found himself in the right in Washington DC In order to defend META’s purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp, which according to the US Competition and Consumer Protection Authority has created a monopoly.

DN has sought Mark Zuckerberg through Meta’s press service.